Thursday Night Football

For the first time ever, Thursday night football is making its way to Kenan Memorial Stadium as UNC takes on Florida State tonight.  While UNC has long been a target of ESPN for a Thursday night game, there were always questions about the logistics of holding such a game in the stadium, which sits smack dab in the middle of campus.  Chapel Hill can be a nightmare to navigate on a regular workday, much less on a day when 60,000+ are driving in from the rest of the state to see a game.  To UNC’s credit, the University has put a ton of plans into place to allow the event to take place, and will even shut down campus at 3pm today to allow workers to get home before the place turns into a mess.

While FSU is riding a bit of a cold streak and both teams have their respective issues (UNC on offense, FSU on defense), the chance to play under the lights in front of a national television audience has to be a dream fulfilled for players on both sides.  And tonight’s opponent brings back a great memory of Tar Heel football past - the unexpected 41-9 drubbing we put on a highly-ranked Noles team in 2001 during my sophomore year -  a victory which was consummated by the felling of the goal post (after considerable effort and 45 minutes of trying!)  It was the best football game of my college career, and the start of a great finish to the season for the 2001 team (a season which included a Peach Bowl win over Auburn)

The weather looks to be beautiful in Chapel Hill tonight and Kenan Stadium will no doubt be on display as one of the most picturesque settings in all of college football.  Should be a perfect place for some Thursday Night Football.

(Kenan photo from Flickr)